Lists

list of things I love

my children

the sound of blackbirds at dusk

cherry blossom

sunshine

warm sand

laughter

my parents

snowflakes

friends

making jewellery

my studio

running

the smell of cut grass

tiramisu

being outdoors

robins and wrens

the northern lights

sunsets

list of things to do in 2015

run a marathon

stitch a quilt

get divorced

move house

teach more workshops

improve my photography

go to the beach

smile lots

laugh lots

have fun

create happy memories

work on new designs

make time for my friends

invite people over lots

take a holiday

journal

January's bite

The temperature gauge tells me it's minus four and a half degrees today. The air is biting, but the sun is fighting through and it will probably be a glorious day.

It's been an impossibly hard week here. The first bit waiting. Trying to be patient. Waiting for promised news to coming. Hoping it would be good.

The news arrived. It wasn't good. There had been hope. Hope for good news. Hope that I could draw a line. Hope that I could move on.

Then decisions. Huge decisions. Life changing decisions.

In some ways it was easy to pick the path to take. I am a mother. Mothers will understand that ultimately all decisions are made based on what's best for your children.

And so it's not over, and I couldn't draw a line, and I am not free just yet to move on. But it won't be long now.

Spring is just around the corner. Brighter days. New life.

It was nice to blow away the cobwebs and breathe in the frosty park this morning. Creativity is easily crushed under the pressure of stress. But you know me... 

... I'm a glass half full girl. The sun will shine bright again soon.

Homemade gifts are the best

I was lucky enough to receive lots of handmade loveliness at Christmas from my nearest and dearest. There were...

A pair of knitted boot cuffs made by my mum.

A paper cut made by my dad of some deer in the forest.

My big boy (11) had made a stencil of trees and etched the glass on a jam jar with etching paste. He twisted wire for the handle and put a little tea light inside.

My small boy (9) produced this tiny canvas of our little family. Mummy, Ollie and Jasper. A sunny day and snow covered mountains in the back ground.

It felt so lovely to know such though and effort had gone into my special gifts. 

A teeny mistletoe necklace

Every winter I light candles, fill my house with holly and mistletoe, bring a tree inside and yet never really question these traditions. This year as the winter solstice came around, I spent some time reading all about the origins of these rituals. Fascinated; I think I could write and write about Yule, the re-birth of the sun, holly, mistletoe, candlelight, yule logs, bringing greenery inside - but I feel the moment has been missed. I will have to save most of it for next year.

For Christmas, I made my mum two necklaces. One teeny hand cut silver holly leaves with glistening faceted garnet berries, the other - the tiniest sprig of hand cut silver mistletoe with the smallest of real pearl berries. I made a matching one for myself.

Mistletoe 

Sacred mistletoe, winter fruit, a sign of life in the dark and barren winter months. Held in great veneration especially when found growing among the boughs of the mighty oak. Five days after the new moon, after the winter solstice, the Druid Priest would cut the mistletoe from the branches with a golden sickle. The mistletoe must be caught as it falls, before it touches the ground. The Priest then divided the plant and dispersed it among the people who hung it over their doorways for protection. Folklore differs, but mistletoe is said to cure illness, ensure fertility, and is a sign of peace and goodwill. 

Mistletoe is excluded from Church decorations, this is probably due to it's connection with Pagans and Druids.

Happy New Year

Briefly...

'Sorry we are Closed'

The last pre-Christmas order is wrapped and packed, and I have just put a 'Closed' notice on my little Esty shop, so I can take a well earned break and enjoy the festive period with my nearest and dearest.

You can still place orders, which will be delivered in the new year. Thank you to each and everyone of you who ordered something this Christmas. I do hope all the things I have made you are well received on Christmas day.

The best shortbread recipe

It's always nice to take something with you when when visiting friends, and I often make these little bite sized all butter shortbread biscuits. I cooked up a batch today, which filled the house with a gorgeous smell of baking. They were sprinkled with castor sugar as soon as they came out of the oven, and many were munched by my kids while still warm.

4oz 110g butter

2oz 50g castor sugar

6oz 175g plain flour

extra castor sugar for dusting

Oven 300 F, 150 C, (130 fan), Gas mark 2

Cream together the butter and sugar.

Add the flour - the mixture will be very dry and crumbly.

Roll out to 5 or 6mm thick, and cut out biscuit shapes. 

(At this time of the year, I often do little Christmas tree shaped ones.)

Bake for 30 mins.

Sprinkle with castor sugar while warm.

Place on a wire rack to cool.

The biscuits are quite soft while they are warm, and develop their crunch as they cool.